Research: Storm Clouds Over the NiobraraPosted by drfl on November 8th, 2011

Before I take a trip anywhere, I do a fair amount of research on where I’m going. First, I try and find all the publicly accessible areas within about 100 miles. I then look at images that other people had captured from those areas to get an idea of the landscape. I also look at topographical maps to understand how the light would fall at various times of the day. Lastly, I either print or buy maps of the area to have on hand so if I don’t like where I am, I can easily try a different location. For today’s post, I researched the Valentine, Nebraska area fairly extensively. Of course, I have photographed the area previously, which always helps, but I wanted to explore some different landscapes. I found that the Nature Conservacy has a large tract of land publicly accessible with a long trial along a ridge overlooking the Niobrara. I wanted to get some shots of this scenic river and it seemed like a perfect place to explore. I spent all day hiking the area and found several places to photograph. When sunset came and some storm clouds rolled across the horizon, I was ready in to grab a shot of the snaking river going into the distance.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200 f/4l @ 131mm, f/8, 1/30 sec., 2-stop Singh-Ray Hard Stop Grad
Niobrara National Scenic River, Keha Paha County, Nebraska

Photo Friday (Double Feature): The Mighty Missouri at Sunrise and TranquilityPosted by drfl on September 16th, 2011

Today’s post contains two images, one is from a popular location in Nebraska, one is not. The first image, from the bluffs at the the tri-state overlook in Ponca State Park, the Missouri is seen snaking through the lowlands during a pretty spectacular sunrise. This is what I would consider a recognizable Nebraska photograph. I do, however, strive to photograph new and interesting locations in Nebraska and while this would be considered “interesting”, it may not be considered “new”. About 15-20 miles from this location is Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area where I witnessed another spectacular sunrise. These images were taken on back to back days. To me the second is more memorable morning, I was alone on the shore with no other soul around photographing an area I hadn’t even heard about until I saw the lonely sign the previous day while driving down the highway. It was a place with its own beauty and serenity. From a marketing and business perspective, the first will probably sell better, simply because it is recognizable, but the second has its own meaning to me. Not to say that one shouldn’t seek out the Tri-State Overlook at Ponca State Park, to me that it is a must-see location in Nebraska, but sometimes there is value in blazing your own path.

Technical Details (The Mighty Missouri at Sunrise):
Canon 5D Mark II, 24mm TS/E II, f/9, Singh-Ray 3 Hard-Stop Neutral Grad, 3 vertical images stitched together
Ponca State Park, Nebraska

Technical Details (Tranquility):
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4 @ 17mm, f/16, 4 sec., Singh-Ray 3 Hard-Stop Neutral Grad
Powder Creek Wildlife Management Area, Nebraska

Reviewing and Setting Goals – 2011Posted by drfl on January 11th, 2011

As I mentioned in my End of Year Retrospective, with the start of every new year, I review my goals for the previous year and set my goals for the next year. This is an activity I recommend for everyone engaged in an ongoing activity photography or not. So what did my review find?

Last year I saw a fairly good growth in business, more and more people are becoming aware of my work which means that my marketing engine is working. Website traffic has grown and a great deal of interest in my work came from a diverse collection of sources. Is my marketing working at 100%? Probably not, but then again most marketing schemes do not, there is always room for improvement. How about shooting? While I captured some new and different images, I feel the need to expand my existing collections, try new things, and above all else – learn more!

So what am I planning for 2011? From an image collection perspective, I have at least 2 trips envisoned – one for Rocky Mountain National Park and another for western Nebraska. I really want to show a different side of the state than to which I accustomed. I also hope to add a couple of pieces of really unique equipment, one which may be coming this week! Stay tuned for what that may be! We can learn together (if you’re into that sort of thing.  A shiny new thing may help me lift the photography funk that has plagued me since early November. The 6-8 inch blanket of snow that just fell is also helping with that though.

From a business perspective, I hope to expand my stock offerings and collection with additional supporting imagery. So often I pick 1 image out of a couple of hundred, process it, and present it. There are several variations of my images that I simply archive, some of these may be useful to those looking for a larger variety. I do not know how I will accomplish this yet, but I hope to a have a structure and plan for this by the end of January. I also plan on expanding to new art fairs. In the past I have only attended one per year. I hope to expand that to 2-4 this year.

So what are your goals?  Share them if you like, but be sure to set some!

2011 looks to be exciting and I’m looking forward to making some new images!

Technical Details:
Falling Water Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 33mm, f/16, 2 sec., ND Filter (3-stop)

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 4: A Morning ReflectionPosted by drfl on October 14th, 2010

Early one morning I rose and walked up the trail to Emerald Lake in the dark.  Uncertain as to how long the nearly 2 mile hike would take, I gave myself quite a bit of time.  When I arrived I took the time to simply sit near the serene and perfectly still lake, feeling the cool autumn mountain air on my skin, listening to the sound of a waterfall across the lake and the occasionally chirp of a Stellar Jay.  As sunrise approached, I expected to be joined by others at this very popular destination, and yet no one arrived.  I solely enjoyed this scene for almost 2 hours before heading down the trail.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, my trip to Rocky Mountain National Park was without clouds.  Because of the conditions, filters would not be as necessary.  Without filters, panoramic stitches are easier so I took this opportunity to take multiple photographs to later join them together.  This image is a result of 2 images from my Canon 5D Mark II resulting in a detailed 30 Megapixel image. 

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 F/4l @ 21mm x2, f/8, 1.3 sec
Emerald Lake – Hallet’s Peak and Flattop Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 2: Alluvial IllusionsPosted by drfl on October 12th, 2010

Water falls down the Roaring River and into the Alluvial Fan in Horseshoe Park. Recently created (in cosmic history standards) in 1982 by a tremendous flood that killed 3 campers, the boulders and sand sediment will exist and continue to change for centuries. For more information regarding the flood visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_Lake_Dam.

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 21mm, f/10, 10 sec., 3-Stop ND Filter, Slight Orton
Alluvial Fan – Horseshoe Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Photos of Rocky Mountain National Park – Day 1: Whisperings of BierstadtPosted by drfl on October 11th, 2010

Noticeably absent for the past two weeks, I have been capturing some new images.  Over the next three weeks I hope to present some new and varied material.  Today’s image comes from Bierstadt Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.   A beautiful hike and a beautiful lake I was almost alone on a crisp, quiet autumn morning.  I was alone save two deer who visited the lake shore briefly. 

Technical Details:
Canon 5D Mark II, 17-40 f/4l @ 19mm, f/10, 4 sec., 2 stop soft Singh-Ray ND Grad, 3 stop hard Singh-Ray Grad
Bierstadt Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado